While taking out two pigs may seem like a drop in the bucket, in the long run, it can prevent tens of thousands more from being born.

Written by

Brian Albert Broom
bbroom@clarionledger.com

In mathematical terms, the reproductive potential of wild pigs is staggering. "You could go from a pregnant sow to over 100,000 hogs in 20 years," said Bronson Strickland, associate Extension professor at Mississippi State University.

"It's an exponential growth curve. It's like compound interest on a loan; after about 10 years it takes off like a rocket. It's the offspring of her offspring of her offspring."

While Strickland is quick to point out that reproductive numbers like that are strictly mathematical calculations and will probably never happen in the wild, it shows the potential ...